Fourteen students have been awarded the Portage Health Foundation Making a Difference Scholarship. The scholarships are part of a Michigan Tech-Portage Health Foundation partnership established in 2015 to support health education. This year’s recipients have an average GPA of 3.8 and represent the breadth of health-related research happening on Michigan Tech’s campus.
The $8,000 scholarships went to the following students: Lana Alaraje of Houghton, a biomedical engineering student, Gavin McBride of Hancock, a mechanical engineering student, Leah Riutta of Calumet, a biochemistry and molecular biology student and Mariah Willmer of Lake Linden, a biomedical engineering student.
Receiving $4,000 scholarships were Kaitlyn Brady of Ewen-Trout Creek, an exercise science student and Meg Keranen of Dollar Bay, an electrical engineering student.
The students that recieved $1,000 scholarships were: Cassidy Becia of Houghton, an exercise science student, Andrew Eskola of Calumet, an exercise science student, Kellen Klein of Lake Linden, a biological sciences student, Rory LaBine of Ontanogan, a computer engineering student, Kaisa Nagel of Calumet, a humanities student, Madison Palosaari of Lake Linden, a medical laboratory sciences student, Elisabeth Svoke of Houghton, a biological sciences student and Kyle Usimaki of L’anse, a biological sciences student.
“I am so impressed by the caliber of our Make a Difference Scholar candidates! With the investment from the Portage Health Foundation in the form of scholarships, the seed is planted. With nurturing from Michigan Tech University, these students have every opportunity for their education to blossom into their dream careers in health care,” says Bernadette Yeoman-Ouellette, Chairperson of the Portage Health Foundation board. “It is the synergy between the Portage Health Foundation and Michigan Tech University that allows this fruition to occur.”
During the dinner, scholarship recipients and faculty members had the opportunity to hear from current students, Allie Waara and Elisha Earley, both PHF Undergraduate Research Interns; and Alexa Destrampe, a Portage Health Foundation and Randy Owsley Memorial Athletic trainer scholar.
“We are especially grateful to the Portage Health Foundation for their support of our students through the Making a Difference scholarship program,” said Rick Koubek, President of Michigan Tech. “Each recipient is truly deserving of the award and we are eager to see the impact these students will have on our community in the years to come.”
